I cut across from N-D-de la Salette toward Poltimore many times. Windy roads.
This is my first 50/50 bike(sort of) since I was 15. Started in the trails but progressed to street as soon as possible. Now I'm fed up with straight lines and stupid car drivers. It's like discovering a whole new world. I gave up riding 2-3 years ago because of boredom and lack of adventure. Now the motivation has come back stronger than ever.

Check this out.

Last May in front of my house
I just got this bike on the road at the end of June.

22 July, I went for a short run to test the windscreen. I wasn't 5 minutes from my home when a car turned in front of me.

I must be more careful. ATGATT is a must. I broke my right knee. Could have been worse. Got lucky.
I will be paying much more attention to other drivers from now on, until I hit the trails.
Life happens.

I've got a 80 or 81 GS400 sitting in the garage waiting for the GF to get inspired and learn on. I'll have to get some knobbies for it too.

Click to expand...

I tried to get my wife to learn but she had trouble with the clutch and dropped the bike. No big deal, but since my accident, she let me know that bikes don't interest her anymore. I get to ride solo now.
As for knobbies, I tried to fit a 3.50-18 on the front but it was too big. The fork brace and fender wouldn't fit anymore. Had to make a special extension bracket to lift it away from the tire. At the time, Shinko had no 3.00-18 in north america. Now IRC has them. Shinko is rated at 72mph and IRC at 92mph. I get them from BikeBandit and have them delivered to Ogdensburg at the UPS store. FYI.

I hope you get your wife riding the bike. Much more pleasant than having a pasenger.

I cut across from N-D-de la Salette toward Poltimore many times. Windy roads.
This is my first 50/50 bike(sort of) since I was 15. Started in the trails but progressed to street as soon as possible. Now I'm fed up with straight lines and stupid car drivers. It's like discovering a whole new world. I gave up riding 2-3 years ago because of boredom and lack of adventure. Now the motivation has come back stronger than ever.

Check this out.

Last May in front of my house
I just got this bike on the road at the end of June.

22 July, I went for a short run to test the windscreen. I wasn't 5 minutes from my home when a car turned in front of me.

I must be more careful. ATGATT is a must. I broke my right knee. Could have been worse. Got lucky.
I will be paying much more attention to other drivers from now on, until I hit the trails.
Life happens.

Click to expand...

That is nasty. I remembering seeing your post elsewhere on this forum. Glad to hear you are still riding. My wife was against motorcycles up to a year ago but now is even considering riding with me and maybe one of her own down the line.

I agree on ATGATT. I have 2 young girls and will do all I can to be well read and practice, practice & practice. In fact, I just got my P3 lights today for a bit more added viz. April 25th is my MSF refresher with my GSA. I just hope I have enough time to get some miles on it before the course Much rather drop it alone than in a crowd.

I once read an article about 90% of motorcycle accidents were the rider's fault. Too fast for the road, lane changes without signaling, etc. Not necessarily a legal point of view, just a preventative one. In my case, I was driving a little too fast for the amount of traffic around me. There are no guarantees but one can manipulate the odds.
I guess the best way to look at it is that all other vehicles are boulders rolling and bouncing down a hill... must not hit any. No intelligent life, just rocks.

I once read an article about 90% of motorcycle accidents were the rider's fault. Too fast for the road, lane changes without signaling, etc. Not necessarily a legal point of view, just a preventative one. In my case, I was driving a little too fast for the amount of traffic around me. There are no guarantees but one can manipulate the odds.
I guess the best way to look at it is that all other vehicles are boulders rolling and bouncing down a hill... must not hit any. No intelligent life, just rocks.

Click to expand...

Exactly. Everyone is out to get us. And, with things like the senior population doubling in the next few years, we need to be even more careful. I drive my pick-up the same way.

I did a couple of exploratory rides in there last year and there is a ton of dirt riding to be done in there. I hear something like a thousand miles of trails from easy gravel raods to really knarly looking stuff. I got cold feet being on the big GS and trying some of the smaller trails so I'm looking for something smaller this year. ATV's are not allowed in there, not like the Larose Forest so it's hunters, fishermen and loggers.

Keep the thread going and I'll join you guys for some of those Saturday rides

Click to expand...

Thanks for the linky's. Ill have to explore that part of PQ as I normally roll around the Rouge/148/Pine hill area.
I have to tell you I am getting pretty antsy (as I always do in Feb) but more so now as the ice has left my road and I couldnt give a shit about getting the bike filthy (Hard to do with my Bonneville as it was too sweet to get full of shit and corruption)
I fired it up and popped through some gears.. I also made it legal like as I got my plates and insurance up to snuff.
Maybe
Just maybe, winter has said adieu? (yeah I know I just f***** it for all of us for another 2 months! )

Hey lads - I'm new to the game and based in Ottawa (Westboro). Bought myself a '98 KLR 650 with low mileage to get into the game this summer. Haven't ridden much except for trail riding up in Calabogie on an XR200, but have spent the last 20+ years on mountain bikes.

Keep me in the loop for weekend rides. Would like to string rides together from town out to Calabogie - backroads, K&P Trail, powerlines, etc. West Quebec looks interesting too.

Hey lads - I'm new to the game and based in Ottawa (Westboro). Bought myself a '98 KLR 650 with low mileage to get into the game this summer. Haven't ridden much except for trail riding up in Calabogie on an XR200, but have spent the last 20+ years on mountain bikes.

Keep me in the loop for weekend rides.

dialdn - you look familiar....you're from Manotick by any chance?

frazman

Click to expand...

Hey Frazman:

Kewl, the more the merrier.

Yep, grew up there for a bit then worked at Ambler IGA, did St.Leonard's and St.Mark's.

PM and we can sort it out

EDIT: I am guessing while we never biked togther, we had connected over mapping the Kanata Lakes trails.

Hey lads - I'm new to the game and based in Ottawa (Westboro). Bought myself a '98 KLR 650 with low mileage to get into the game this summer. Haven't ridden much except for trail riding up in Calabogie on an XR200, but have spent the last 20+ years on mountain bikes.

Keep me in the loop for weekend rides. Would like to string rides together from town out to Calabogie - backroads, K&P Trail, powerlines, etc. West Quebec looks interesting too.